Lipid profile. Review on Managing Cholesterol

Most of you must be having your weekly off today. I suggest you to spare some time and think about your health.

Recently I came to know about some cases of heart attack where patients are in the age group of 26 to 32. One of my friends, Mr. Shah, has to go for bypass surgery who is around 38. According to one of the cardiologist, there is an increasing trend due to change in life style. I have written my opinion / suggestions on Overweight and Obesity(in four parts). There I have mentioned about Lipid Profile but in very short. Here I shall try to share more information about Lipid Profile and related subject.

What is Lipid?

-

Lipid is one large group of fatty or oily essential for good health. Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids are class of compounds available in all living beings. Animal Fat, Plant oils, Animal sex hormones, and vitamin A, D, E, K, egg yolk, embryos of grains and other cereals are foods rich in lipids.

Why it is important?

-

Lipids are vital to animals and plants in many ways. This is a concentrated source of energy. Energy yield from lipids is very high and may be twice that of equal amount of carbohydrates or proteins. Lipid is stored in bone marrows, tissues beneath the skin, in the intestines and tissues around body organs consist of stored lipids.

Certain lipids form an essential part of the membranes that enclose and protect living cell. Similar membranes surround all bodies within the cell so that each cell body can perform its job without any interference from each others.

There are two types of Lipid; Simple Lipid and Complex Lipid. Chemistry is very complicated so I do not want go into details due to my limitation.

What is Lipid Profile?

-

Cholesterol is a type of lipid which is essential for good health but within certain limits. I repeat, Cholesterol is good if it is within prescribed limits.

Cholesterol is an important part of membranes of cells in our body. Liver uses cholesterol to produce ‘Bile Acids’ act as a digestion aid. Our body produces hormones with the help of cholesterol. Hormones influence body activities.

Triglycerides are one more lipid stored by cells for energy. Cholesterol and Triglycerides are the two major fatty substances in the blood. Both are carried through the blood by Lipo-proteins. There are two types of Lipo-proteins – Low Density Lipo-proteins(LDL) and High Density Lipo-proteins(HDL). Cholesterol in blood can be identified as LDL Cholesterol and HDL Cholesterol.

LDL can be found on the walls of arteries of our heart. High level of LDL Cholesterol is primary cause of heart attack. People normally have more LDL-Cholesterol in blood than HDL Cholesterol.

Lipid Profile is an analysis of blood that indicates amount of Cholesterol and Triglycerides in mg/deciliters

Factors causing high cholesterol level

-

Cellular molecules called LDL-receptors control the amount of cholesterol in the body. Reason for high LDL Cholesterol in our blood is due to consumption of food that is having high cholesterol or saturated fat content. Saturated fats are available in animal fats and vegetable fats. Selection of right kind of edible is very important because in India we consume lot of fried food and sweets. In case of ready to eat food, we really do not know what they are using. Vanaspati and Pure Ghee are full of cholesterol and widely used for tasty food.

People may have high cholesterol due to some abnormal Gene that prevents formation of LDL receptors. This is an inherited disorder. Once should consult Experienced Doctor.

Other factors that can be the cause for high cholesterol are malfunctioning of thyroid gland, kidney diseases, diabetes and use of various medicines. Once should consult Experienced Doctor.

Limits of Lipids(normal range)

-

Total Cholesterol – 140 - 250 mg/dl

HDL Cholesterol – 35 to 65 mg/dl

LDL Cholesterol – 90 to 160 mg/dl

VLDL Cholesterol – Max. 35 mg/dl

Triglycerides –  25 to 160 mg/dl.

-

I have written this article to increase awareness. Please consult an Experienced Doctor for advice on Lipid Profile and general health. Analysis should be by a Reputed Pathological Laboratory only. I am not very sure of the reliability of automatic machines being used by small laboratories.

-

I go for Lipid Profile check every year because somehow I am managing to be within the limits. Your doctor is the right person to advice you about the frequency of the test and medication / corrective actions, if required.

-